Frank’s Coast to Coast Ride for Justin – Day 19. May 15
Editors note: the following is shared from Frank Watson’s blog at: Frank’s Coast to Coast Ride for Justin
LAMAR, KS – This was a day that I didn’t want to get out of bed! I lay in bed all night listening to the wind blow against the hotel. But I got up and prepped for the day that would take me into Kansas.
I made a stop at WalMart and bought a $9.50 radio. This was a wise choice as a replacement for my ear plugs of yesterday. I spent the day grinding it out, like a fish swiming up steam … all day!
I ran into rain about the 26 mile mark. Dressed in every stitch of cloths I had and shopping bags taped around my feet and hands. I pressed on at 7–9 mph.
The math said I would not make the 102 miles to Garden City. This meant trying for the town of Lakin 23 miles to the west. Up and down hills through pasture land and hay fields I stopped about 18 miles west Lakin. There, a Kansas State trooper in a pickup truck stopped to check on me. He commented on the wind and cold day, then offered to take me the rest of the way into town. That’s how desperate I must have looked.
I declined assured him I would make it ok. With that I rolled on, pacing my way to town. On the outskirts of town a pickup truck had pulled off the road a few hundred yards ahead. When I reached the truck a guy got out and flagged me down. He said I was only 1 1/2 miles from town and said that the weather called for rain and wind for the next 3 days. He said he had a place a few miles back and invited me to stay. This is typical Kansas. He then said that he wasn’t interested in having sex or anything like that? Well that was a deal breaker. After all being on the road for 18 days I was disappointed in this. Who the hell says this as an opening line anyway? I declined and said no thanks and sped up the hill into town at Tour De France speed! Yikes!! my tech adviser J Perry warned me of this situation. I made it into town just before dark and found a room at the only hotel in town. Now 80.5 miles done.
Now the bad news. Looks like I got a case of the flu! Nose running all day chilled to the bone with a fever. I don’t do sick well on my best day but this is very inconvenient . I am going to bed and see how tomo goes. I am a few days ahead of schedule so may end up taking the day off or go into Garden City and find medical help. Will keep you informed as I go.
Remember to say a prayer to Justin, & please take time to go to the bone marrow registry site & sign up! Deletebloodcancer.org
Follow this journey on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/frankscoast2coast4justin
And on Instagram at:
coast2coast4mayorkline
Donations may be made by visiting:
https://www.gofundme.com/rideforjustin
For more background information on this effort see our earlier story at: Canton Man Riding Coast-to-Coast for Justin Kline
